The PharmChek® Drugs of Abuse Sweat Patch by PharmChem allows continual monitoring of drug dependent clients. It is a reliable and affordable tool that acts as a deterrent to continued drug use.
The Sweat Patch acts as a collector for nonvolatile components of sweat, including drugs of abuse. It consists of an adhesive plastic film that holds a pad in place against the skin. The adhesive film of the patch is a semipermeable barrier that allows oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor to pass through so that the skin can breathe normally. Larger molecules (such as drugs) are trapped in the absorption pad portion of the patch. Contaminants from the environment cannot penetrate the adhesive barrier from the outside, so the patch can be worn during normal activities, including bathing, swimming and athletics.
The Sweat Patch is worn on the upper arm. The Sweat Patch should be worn for a minimum of 24 hours to ensure an adequate amount of sweat is collected for testing.
The Sweat Patch is tamper-evident when applied correctly. A unique number is imprinted on each patch to aid with chain-of custody identification. The Sweat Patch is also gender-neutral and eliminates the need for same sex observations.